San Francisco, California -
California's top court ruled on Thursday that a state law banning marriage between same-sex couples is unconstitutional.
In a 4-3 ruling the Califonia Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, finding that it is unconstitutional to deprive gays and lesbians of the equal right to marry.
The court said that California's domestic partnership law is not a good enough substitute for marriage.
Today's decision marks a major victory for gay rights advocates.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the executive director of Equality California ran out of his office building and screamed, "We Won!" just after the decision was released at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said that he accepts the ruling of the court.
Gay and lesbian couples in the nation's largest state could begin to marry once the ruling is officially published by the court.
California becomes the second state after Massachusetts to allow gay and lesbian residents the right to marry. Massachusetts ruled on the case more than 4 years ago.
All three presidential candidates have said they are opposed to same-sex marriage, with Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama pledging support of civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.
In a 4-3 ruling the Califonia Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, finding that it is unconstitutional to deprive gays and lesbians of the equal right to marry.
The court said that California's domestic partnership law is not a good enough substitute for marriage.
Today's decision marks a major victory for gay rights advocates.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the executive director of Equality California ran out of his office building and screamed, "We Won!" just after the decision was released at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said that he accepts the ruling of the court.
Gay and lesbian couples in the nation's largest state could begin to marry once the ruling is officially published by the court.
California becomes the second state after Massachusetts to allow gay and lesbian residents the right to marry. Massachusetts ruled on the case more than 4 years ago.
All three presidential candidates have said they are opposed to same-sex marriage, with Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama pledging support of civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.
